12 Leaders in High School Activity Programs to Receive 2018 NFHS Citations

Twelve leaders in high school activity programs across the country have been selected to receive National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Citations.

An award designed to honor individuals who have made contributions to the NFHS, state high school associations, athletic director and coaching professions, the officiating avocation and fine arts/performing arts programs, the NFHS Citation is one of the most highly regarded achievements in high school athletics and performing arts.

The 2018 NFHS Citation recipients will receive their awards July 1 at the 99th annual NFHS Summer Meeting in Chicago, Illinois.

Eight of the 12 award winners represent NFHS-member state high school associations, and four recipients represent NFHS professional organizations for officials, coaches, music leaders and speech/debate/theatre directors.

The eight state association recipients are Steve Timko, Section 1, recently retired executive director of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association; Melissa Mertz, associate executive director of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association; Keith Alexander, assistant executive director of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association; Craig Ihnen, executive director of the Iowa High School Speech Association; David Cherry, assistant executive director of the Kansas State High School Activities Association; T. J. Parks, superintendent of the Hobbs (New Mexico) Municipal Schools and president of the New Mexico Activities Association; Becky Anderson, retired assistant director of the Utah High School Activities Association; and Trevor Wilson, associate commissioner of the Wyoming High School Activities Association.

The four Citation recipients representing the NFHS professional organizations are Joe Manjone, NFHS Officials Association, longtime soccer official and current soccer rules interpreter for the Alabama High School Athletic Association; Scott Evans, NFHS Coaches Association, retired assistant director of the New Mexico Activities Association who was responsible for coaching education in the state; Alan Greiner, NFHS Music Association, executive director of the Iowa High School Music Association; and Tara Tate, NFHS Speech/Debate/Theatre Association, forensics educator at Glenbrook South High School in Glenview, Illinois.